MCLC: Oliver Stone slams Chinese film industry (4, 5)

[Denton, Kirk]

MCLC LIST
From: Canaan Morse <canaan.morse at gmail.com>
Subject: Oliver Stone slams Chinese film industry (4)
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I would disagree with Bruce, given the context of the quote, and suggest
that the "we" is actually quite specific: it refers to the American and
Chinese producers who have been trying to work together productively for
the past several years. On one side, Hollywood is greedy for Chinese
ticket sales, and have invited officials from the Radio, Film and
Television bureau in to censor movies Hollywood wants to show in China. On
the other, Chinese producers are trying desperately to lure Hollywood
money and talent into China, to improve the quality of the films they make
and to strengthen their side in the cultural war China's top brass believe
themselves to be in. On that point, incidentally, I find it essential to
be aware of just how important "going out" 走出去 is to SAPPFRT and those in
the Central Committee who allocate their funding.

I find Oliver Stone's honesty refreshing. Comparison between what is
genuinely successful in Chinese mainstream media and what is officially
sanctioned indicates very strongly that the SAPPFRT has a problem with the
truth -- not even politically sensitive truth, but narratives that reflect
the lives of real people without adornment. The TV show 蜗居 is an excellent
example, and one that Prof. Wang might consider as counterexample to his
economic argument. Here is a show that made millions of dollars and
garnered an astronomical number of views -- made a phenomenon, to put it
bluntly -- by relating the details of different lives in Shanghai without
resort to comedic distortion. It was a sensation and incredibly
profitable, and finally "persuaded" not to be continued.

Meanwhile, billions of dollars are being thrown at various projects by
government officials whose business it is to "export" Chinese culture, as
if that thing were a quantifiable, priceable product like a refrigerator.
Generally speaking, these are people who either know or care nothing for
art, or, if they ever did, have shelved their concerns. The effect of
their power on China's film industry (as in literature, where I have too
much firsthand experience) is to blunt sharp messages, promote mediocrity,
and make war against plural interpretations. Money and politeness tend to
mute public criticisms to that effect, but any avid movie watcher will say
what Oliver Stone did: They're producing crap. The emperor isn't wearing
any clothes.

I would reference Yu Hua in relation to Prof. Wang's argument about
economic and political development. Yu Hua  pointed out that, since
Tiananmen, economic reform has continued, while political reform
essentially has not. The case of 蜗居 and so many other projects like it
seems to support the claim that economic reform will not, inevitably, lead
to political opening up. I would also point out that criticisms of Mao and
criticisms of the Cultural Revolution are fundamentally different, since
the CR contained a polemic within itself which the people were allowed to
recognize. 

Canaan

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From: Lily Lee <l.lee at sydney.edu.au>
Subject: Oliver Stone slams Chinese film industry (5)

I welcome Rujie's conservative optimism. China has many problems in its
path, but hopefully steady economic development will lead to political
liberalism.
Lily